TARKEEB
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DISPLAY WALL + COMMUNITY TABLE
photo © Juan Roldan
TARKEEB
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DISPLAY WALL + COMMUNITY TABLE
left: Overall night-time view of Display Wall including Print Lab Benches, Open Display Shelves and Enclosed Display Case previous page: View of Display Vitrine at the side entry to the College.
ABSTRACT
photo © Juan Roldan
This design/build project proposes the integration of a table, seating, and display area at the side entryway of a college of architecture designed and built by architecture students in their 5th Year. Two subsequent material fabrication seminar courses contributed to the construction. This studio launched the design/build program at the College and developed a master plan currently used as a map locating within the College more recent projects in the d/b program. Students who participated in this studio have since graduated. Some are pursuing master’s degrees in programs with an emphasis on material fabrication while others have launched their own practices that emphasize material development and exploration unique in the region. These developments represent a remarkable (if very localized) success story in a region awash in a globalism but lacking a developed local material culture.
The project combines a family of functions into a hybrid structure defining the side entry to the College and providing a much-needed exterior study and gathering place. Just outside the entrance linking the College to the Student Center, a long table creates a communal seating and gathering space, providing a space where students can gather or work, or a place to simply sit and sip morning coffee. Just inside the College and adjacent to the gallery space, a display case and wall provide lit and secure exhibition of photo © Juan Roldan objects or multimedia displays. At the entry door to the building, a glass display vitrine connects and provides a transitional element between the interior display wall and the exterior community table—both physically and formally. Ultimately, the design links interior space and function with the exterior grounds of the College, extending an open hand of invitation to the University community while providing a place of exchange between architecture students and their colleagues from different colleges.
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left top: Detail view of Open Display Shelves left bottom: Detail view of transition from radius glass door of Enclosed Display Case to Open Display Shelves right top: View of Enclosed Display Case and Open Display Shelves from Gallery space right below: Detail views of Open Display Shelves and Print Lab Benches
photo Š Juan Roldan
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(RE)BUILDING A MATERIAL CULTURE The UAE suffers from a desperate need for the development of a local material culture in a region awash in global cultural influences. Globalism experienced everywhere has been exacerbated here by economic and cultural conditions, resulting in the near annihilation of an already attenuated local material culture in the UAE. In a previous JAE article on the topic I wrote, “The disappearance of local traditions in the UAE has multiple roots . . . These include the particularities of a Khaleeji (Gulf) culture rooted in the constraints of nomadic life and limited resources, a prejudice against physical labor, and economic factors. The net result is a reliance on imported products, ideas, and sensibilities . . .
above: Composite main elevation of Display Wall from the Gallery space, showing Enclosed Display Case and Open Display Shelves
Oil-driven development also brought an influx of people from all around the Arab world and beyond. A significant portion, if not a majority of students at the [the College], belong to this cosmopolitan context and grew up in the UAE as foreign nationals. While they typically maintain close contact with their countries of origin, these students’ life experiences have been formed within the context of the UAE. Often, there has been a similar rupture between this generation and their forbearers’ material traditions—a rupture caused by dislocation rather than by development.” Working against this tide, the College has implemented a curricular revision converting a single course (furniture design) into a curriculum-wide emphasis
on material and tectonic language. New courses in material and digital fabrication from beginning to advanced levels feed into a fifth-year design/build program, now in its fourth year. The Tarkeeb project launched the program and set the stage for ensuing d/b projects. The program represents a seed that should continue to bear fruit over the coming years, providing young designers with the tools necessary to provide a critical material response to local needs and conditions. More immediately, students participating in the Tarkeeb project met the course and program objectives while learning to work with clients, community groups, craftsmen, donors, building consultants, and material suppliers on a project that integrates design and construction with civic responsibility.
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photo Š Juan Roldan
above: View from bridge linking the College and the Student Center of the side entry to College including Display Wall emerging from inside the College, Display Vitrine and Community Table
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MASTER PLAN + NODE DEVELOPMENT
Students spent the early portion of the semester identifying opportunities for intervention around College grounds. After interviewing various stakeholders in the College, students proposed a master plan for a display procession through the College premises, as well as a coherent strategy for displaying physical and digital work. Nodes identified within the planned procession would function as exhibition displays and gathering places both for visitors and the daily life of the College.
Students produced schematic proposals for several different nodes within the master plan, before selecting a hybrid proposal combining two schemes sited at the informal but highly frequented side entry to the College. The provided brief included replacing existing display cases with something that would “serve as a manifestation of what we do in the College, even when no objects or artifacts are on display.”
50 %
Sept
Design
Project Timeline present research Oct
Design Charette // master plan
studio review
Design Charette // sub-element design
Eid Al Adha break formal pinup review
Dec
2. CAAD Lounge
1
DEAN’S LOUNGE
GALLERY RECONFIG.
Gallery Reconfiguration 3. Vestibule display
Located in the Basement of AD1 in front of the woodshop main entrance. This zone can be reconfigured to retain its current functions of display and gathering more effectively. Acoustics are a particular issue and could be improved.
(highlight this node of intervention) Located on Level 1 between AD1 and AD2, beside the Main Gallery and heading out towards the plaza between CAAD and the Student Center. The current wall with the shelves can be extended internally around the corner hallway and externally into the vestibule, possibly even beyond. This new node could provide seating as well as display functionality.
Jan
4. Vertical Atrium
Construction // mobilization Construction // fabrication
bly lab
5. AD2 Stairs
First possibility: To create a pin-up space on the studio side, and offer 2D display on the atrium side. Second possibility: To create a pin-up space on the studio side, and offer projected/digital display on the atrium side.
– p.21
01. This proposal dealt with the extension of the indoor space to the outside. A shading structure houses an exterior workspace with a central long table where students can work. In the interior, encased shelves provide opportunities for display as well as a large pinnable surface.
This proposal deals with the extension of a display case from the inside to the outside. In the interior it provides spaces for screens for multimedia display as well as glass cases for model display. The outdoor space features seating areas.
– p.23
– p.24
– p.29
above: Studio charette during node development phase bottom: Extracts from a booklet documenting program development, node development and schematic design phases
The following drawings show the different locations for the proposed nodes and the different paths that could like them together, whether it is through visitors or students.
– p.17
– p.13
02. This proposal deals with a structure that flows through the voids and maneuvers around the solids of the AD2 staircase. The structure grows where its needed to become display and/or seating. The intent was to also have this object istelf be an attractive object that showcases itself along the blank canvas that is the vertical staircase.
Pre-design
15%
Located from the Basement to Level 2 of AD2. The wall surface at the landings can be utilized as a vertical display. The landings could be redesigned to allow for a continuous view of the display.
– fall 2012
07.
Vertical Atrium Seating + Catwalk + Reconfiguration of the wall.
Located in AD2 near IDE studios starting from the basement and upwards from the atrium. The large open space invites the ere- ction of a freestanding wall or object that spans all the levels. This object provides the opportunity for physical and/or digital display5.on the atrium side, while the side facing away from the atrium can provide additional pinup space.
Design // presentation drawings Pre-construction // fabrication drwaings
EB
VERTICAL ATRIUM
4
100%
Nov
Build
material acquisition
TARKEEB assembly lab
Media wall located at the top of the AD1 stairs + System of screens located throughout the premises of CAAD + Wall on the right upon entering AD2 through the informal main entrance, opposite the Digital Equipment Lab/ Room. A vertical surface can be extended at the top of the AD1 stairs to form the media wall. This places it in a focal position and allows views of it from Level 1 as well as from around the atrium on Level 2. It’s also proposed that screens be placed in particular locations throughout the buildings that are linked through the Masterplan sequence and also form points of information along the sequence. These screens would provide information relevant to their particular location. Additionally, the wall across the Digital Equipment Lab/Room can form a projection or digital surface that provides pertinent and constantly updated information (about meetings, lectures and exhibitions) to students and faculty as soon as they enter the building.
35%
1. Multimedia system Preparation // research Preparation // site documentation
PROPOSAL THREE :: NODE VESTIBULE . ELEVATION 1:50
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SCHEMATIC DESIGN Students engaged in research, testing and materials exploration throughout the design development and fabrication phases. The display wall required 50cm of depth to allow for adequate display space. The students considered several methods for furring out the existing wall to allow for display depth. They settled on a backup wall methodology functioning structurally like kitchen cabinets faced with fixed wood panels.
Students identified an additional series of desired micro-programmatic functions clustered around the College’s side entry. These included benches near the Printing Lab for students to send files and wait for print jobs to finish, a much-needed exterior gathering and study space, and finally, the opportunity to link to university life beyond the insular College walls by extending display and communal spaces outside adjacent to the Student Center. The design solution centered on a continuous element beginning near the Printing Lab, turning into the entry foyer and terminating on the exterior plaza fronting the College.
top left: Rendering of side entry to the College with new Community Table and Display Vitrine with integrated signage
Gallery CAAD Side Entry Hall
bottom left: Schematic plan of extents of the project showing relationship between the project and the interior (light grey) and the exterior (dark grey) of the College
East Seating Community Table West Seating
Faculty Offices
Display Vitrine Enclosed Display Case
Open Display Shelves Print Lab
Seminar Classroom
Print Lab Benches
Studio Areas
1m 2m
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1a
1b
1c
1
Interior
a. Open Display Shelves b. Print Lab Benches c. Enclosed Display
Digital renderings and axonometric of schematic design of interior spaces and elements
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CONSTRUCTION [DISPLAY WALL] One group of students produced as-built site drawings and began installing ledger beams while a second group designed and fabricated the backup wall cabinets. Each cabinet required specific dimensions and cutouts to allow for idiosyncratic wall panels. Before beginning production, a digital fabrication team prototyped the wood wall and shelving system. One student worked with a wood finishing company, learning to stain and finish the wood panels. above: (clockwise from top) Installation of backlighting and light diffusing panels; wood panel installation, backup wall furring and cabinet installation; markups on typical section in construction drawings; CNC routing of wood panels; ledger board installation
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left: View of Open Display Shelves and Enclosed Display Case looking outside the side entry to the Display Vitrine and Community Table
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left: Detail night-time view of Open Display Shelves right: Detail night-time view of lockable Enclosed Display Case with adustable backlighting and display lighting
photo Š Juan Roldan
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left: View of Display Wall, including Enclosed Display Case, Open Display Shelves and Print Lab Benches
photo © Juan Roldan
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left: Detail view of Printing Lab Benches right: Printing Lab Benches in use by College faculty
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2a
2b
2c
2d
2e
2
Exterior
a. Display Wall b. Display Vitrine c. East Seating d. West Seating e. Community Table
Digital renderings and axonometric of schematic design of exterior spaces and elements
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left: (from top left clockwise) Sketch detail of Display Vitrine bronze frame; installation of teak wood slats on community table; exploded axonometric of vitrine base; detail view of integral sign on bronze frame; axonometric drawing of all exterior elements; Installation of table base, vitrine base and bronze frame
CONSTRUCTION [DISPLAY VITRINE + TABLE] Two material fabrication seminar courses worked on the fabrication of the exterior portion of the project. This included working with numerous consultants (glass fabricators, bronze casters and aluminum fabricators) to develop a design that could withstand the punishing rigors of a desert climate.
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Students measuring and installing templates for glass display doors
Fabrication and installation of acrylic backlighting panels comprised of individual 25mm wide slats bonded together
Bronze casting College sign for Display Vitrine frame from 3D print positive
Installation of bronze-framed Display Vitrine with 1.5 meter drawer faced with camel leather
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left: Detail view of interlaced meranti wood ‘fingers’ emerging from the teak table top slats right: Students using the Community Table at the side entry to the College
photo © Juan Roldan
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left above: View of Display Vitrine and Community Table from College side entry left below: detail views of Display Vitrine drawer support leg and drawer locking mechanism in open and locked positions right above: Opened Display Vitrine drawer right below: Detail view of Display Vitrine drawer in an open position
photo © Juan Roldan
photo © Juan Roldan
photo © Juan Roldan
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left: Community Table and seating from balcony above right: Display Vitrine and side entry to the College
photo Š Juan Roldan
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left: Community Table in use at the side entry of the College
photo Š Juan Roldan